Chevrolet was founded on 3rd November 1911 in Detroit by the legendary Swiss racecar driver and automotive engineer Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant, the General Motors founder. Over the one hundred plus years Chevrolet has been in existence, the company has produced more than 200 million cars.
As one of the oldest and most popular American car companies, Chevrolet has always made sure that it is on top of its game. Over the years, Chevrolet has had its wins and losses. However, they have always managed to come back stronger.
When Chevrolet and Durant fell out with each other, their personal issues were reflected on the company. In 1921, Alfred Sloan merged the two companies, forming General Motors with Chevy as the company’s main car brand.
10 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe
Americans have always believed that a car is an extension of the owner. And with this, they have always gone all out when it comes to their cars. The Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe is a representation of this. The Chevy Bel Air made its debut in 1949. It was not until 1955 when the second generation Bel Air was unveiled that this car became a style and status icon. The Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe featured aggressive stylish curves and chrome fins.
A huge V8 engine that was paired with a Powerglide transmission was fitted under the hood of this beauty. In 1981, the Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe was discontinued after 32 years of service.
9 Chevrolet Bolt
The popularity of electric cars has for the past decade grown. Many attribute this to Tesla proving to the world that electric cars should not be mini cars with the speed of golf carts. Rather they can be quiet beasts that can be pitted against some of the best gas-powered cars on the market.
Chevy joined the electric car bandwagon in 2016. Their flagship car was the Chevrolet Bolt. The Bolt is one of the many electric cars that have proven that even companies that have produced gas-powered cars since they were founded can go green.
8 Chevrolet C10
Chevrolet pickups are the second most popular trucks in America. Ford takes first place. Chevy trucks are popular for their practicality and versatility. The Chevrolet C10 is a popular truck in the collector’s market as well as the custom truck scene.
The C10 is part of the C/K line that was started in 1959 and ran for forty-one years before the entire line was discontinued in 2000. The Chevrolet C10 is a mid-size half a ton truck that was built to be used on the farm as well as a recreation truck. The C10 was in production for 27 years (1960 to 1987) before it was discontinued.
7 Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro is perhaps one of the most popular American muscle cars in the world. This pony made its debut in September 1966. And since then, Chevy has built and produced over five million units of this car.
The Chevrolet Camaro is currently in its fourth-generation. This car was built to go up against the Ford Mustang. This rivalry has over the years resulted in some of the most beautiful high-performance cars from both companies. The Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang are two cars whose rivalry makes them complement each other. It is hard to imagine one without the other.
6 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa
Most people were introduced to the Chevrolet Corvair Corsa through the pages of Ralph Nader’s book Unsafe at Any Speed. Ralph used the Chevy Corsair Corsa to paint a picture of how the automotive industry did not care about their customer’s safety and well-being.
But, as you know, any publicity is good publicity. Chevrolet took in Ralph’s criticism of the car and rebuilt it. In 1965, exactly a year after Ralph Nader’s book hit the stands, Chevrolet unveiled the second-generation Chevrolet Corvair Corsa. That same year the National Highway Traffic Safety Authority gave the Corvair the green light. The NHTSA found that this car alongside the first generation Corvair posed no greater risk compared to other cars in the market.
5 Chevrolet Corvette
While Chevrolet is most popular for its trucks and roaring muscle cars, their sports cars have over the years caught the eye of enthusiasts. The Chevrolet Corvette is the company’s flagship sports car. The Corvette made its debut in 1953, and since then, Chevy has built eight generations of this American sports car.
The Chevrolet Corvette has over the years dominated the tracks that it has graced. It has gone on to beat some of the fastest sports cars in the world as well as keep up with an Italian Prancing horse supercar.
4 Chevrolet El Camino
The Chevrolet El Camino is not a representation of Chevy’s best works. But this car still deserves a place among the great. The Chevrolet El Camino is one of Chevy’s most enduring cars. This icon is one of the few that managed to pull through and perform despite its looks.
The El Camino was based on the platform of a two-door station wagon. With this, Chevy built a truck of sorts. Yes, the El Camino could not be used on the farm but it could be used to haul farm produce to the market. The Chevy El Camino went on to set a trend for a new generation of pickup trucks that were sportier and flamboyant.
3 Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala was the most expensive car on the market back in 1965. However, this did not stop people from wanting one in their driveways. Chevy sold 1,046,514 units of the Impala. This was registered as an all-time industry record during that time.
In the early to mid-'80s, the Chevrolet Impala was the most popular full-size coupe in the United States. This car was viewed as a status symbol that represented class and style. The Impala is one of the many cars that shaped pop culture. It wasn’t until recently when Chevy tried to revive the Chevrolet Impala that its success and dominance were watered down. This was because the new generation Impala could not live up to its predecessor’s success and hype.
2 Chevrolet Suburban
The Chevrolet Suburban is one of the longest-running Chevrolet nameplates. The Suburban made its debut in 1933 but it was not until 1935 that it made its way into showrooms.
The Suburban was built to be a family vehicle and was meant to carry the entire family for road trips, school, and work drop-offs. The Suburban offered third-row seating and enough cabin space to fit eight people. This car has evolved to be one of the most versatile and practical SUVs in the market today. It has also made its way into the corridors of law enforcement agencies and the government.
1 Chevy SS
The Chevrolet SS was a sporty full-size four-door sedan that boasted of a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine that was paired to a six-speed manual transmission. This engine pushed 415 horsepower to the car’s drivetrain. While the Chevrolet SS is not 100% American, it was built for a working-class car enthusiast who enjoys a smooth ride and good handling.
The Chevy SS is originally from Australia. It was built by Holden. Chevy imported this car to the American market to fill the gap left behind by the Pontiac G8. After a few years of success, Chevy discontinued this car in 2018.